Hall of Fame

Socceroos meet Brazil locals

The Socceroos are embracing the opportunity to play in Brazil, taking time to meet local fans at their training session after the squad assembled in Brasilia.

The Socceroos are embracing the opportunity to play in Brazil, taking time to meet local football fans at their training session after the full squad assembled in Brasilia overnight.

Local children from the Salão Ajax football club were overjoyed at the opportunity to watch the Socceroos train as well as pose for photos and get autographs from the national team ahead of their international with Brazil this weekend.

“Australia and Brazil are two great sports-loving nations and this love of sport transcends age, income, nationality, background and capabilities,” said Australia-s Ambassador to Brazil Brett Hackett from the sidelines of the training session.

The Ambassador explained many of the children present at the training session were beneficiaries of community sports projects supported by the Australian Government.

“To mark the friendly between Australia and Brazil, the Embassy of Australia is supporting the ‘We are what we dream- project of the Salão Ajax football club, which uses football as a mechanism to promote attendance at school, improve self-esteem, reduce instances of child labour and discourage criminal behaviour in the satellite cities of Brasilia,” said Hackett.

“It is a very worthy cause. Australia will provide $2,400 to purchase uniforms and sporting equipment so children aged between 4 and 18 years can participate in local competitions.”

With Australia being one of four countries to have already qualified for next year-s World Cup in Brazil this weekend-s international will be an invaluable experience for the Socceroos, not only in terms of the competition they will face but the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the local conditions.

The Socceroos will play 2014 FIFA World Cup hosts and five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil at Brasilia-s Estadio Nacional Mané Garrincha on Saturday 7 September. Kick off is at 4.15pm local time (Sunday 8 September, 5.15am AEST).

The match will be broadcast live and exclusive on Fox Sports 3HD and Fox Sports 3 from 5am AEST.